Four remarkable Linfield alumni have been selected as recipients of the university’s premier awards. Chosen by the Alumni Leadership Council, the awards honor individuals for their hard work, innovation and generosity of spirit.
Ajeeta Khatiwada ’10, Steve Pickering ’74, Makayla Cordoza ’08 and Dan McMillan ’88 will be recognized as this year’s alumni award recipients during Linfield’s Finest, a signature Homecoming Weekend tradition. The celebration begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in Nicholson Library. Guests will enjoy wine, food and the company of fellow Wildcats. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged.
2025 Alumni Award winners:
- Outstanding Young Alumnus: Ajeeta Khatiwada ’10
- Alumni Service Award: Steve Pickering ’74
- Distinguished Nursing Alumnus of the Year: Makayla Cordoza ’08
- Distinguished Alumnus of the Year: Dan McMillan ’88
Ajeeta Khatiwada ’10: Outstanding Young Alumnus
Ajeeta Khatiwada ’10 arrived at Linfield with big dreams and limited resources. Originally from Nepal, she transferred to Linfield with scholarship support and quickly thrived — working multiple campus jobs, learning from hands-on faculty mentors and graduating summa cum laude in physics. Today, she’s a staff scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she applies artificial intelligence to nuclear data research and leads national security innovations. Khatiwada is also a published author of over 550 peer-reviewed studies, an advocate for STEM equity and a mentor to the next generation of scientists. Her global impact and remarkable achievements have earned her Linfield’s 2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.
Read Khatiwada’s story on Voices of Linfield, then hear her own words at her Outstanding Young Alumnus presentation, 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 in T.J. Day Hall room 219. There is no cost, but registration is recommended.
Steve Pickering ’74: Alumni Service Award
Fifty years after graduation, Steve Pickering ’74 remains one of Linfield’s most dedicated ambassadors. A former football and track and field athlete, Pickering has poured time, energy and resources into supporting Linfield Athletics, organizing alumni reunions and hosting events for Wildcats in Arizona. Professionally, he led companies across the tech, manufacturing and mining sectors, served on corporate boards and mentored young leaders. Whether advising on searches, raising scholarship funds or welcoming Wildcats into his home, Steve lives out Linfield’s values daily. His decades of generosity and leadership have left a lasting mark on the university — and earned him the 2025 Alumni Service Award.
Read more about Pickering’s legacy of service on Voices of Linfield.
Makayla Cordoza ’08, Distinguished Nursing Alumnus of the Year
Makayla Cordoza ’08 is a nationally recognized leader in nursing science, known for her research on sleep and recovery in critically ill patients. Currently an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, she also holds appointments in surgery and brain dysfunction research. Cordoza’s NIH-funded work focuses on improving patient outcomes through better sleep and circadian health in hospital settings. Her career spans clinical practice, policy development and global collaborations, with contributions to NASA-funded research and national ICU care guidelines. She credits Linfield for laying the foundation for her curiosity and leadership. For her extraordinary contributions to health care, Linfield honors her as the 2025 Distinguished Nursing Alumnus of the Year.
Read more about Cordoza’s incredible work on Voices of Linfield.
Dan McMillan ’88: Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Dan McMillan ’88 leads one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest financial services firms — but his path to the C-suite started at Linfield. An English major and varsity basketball player, McMillan credits Linfield with shaping his leadership style through a blend of teamwork, analytical thinking and human-centered storytelling. Now president and CEO of The Standard, he oversees more than 5,300 employees and 9 million customers nationwide. Beyond his corporate success, McMillan is a civic leader committed to revitalizing downtown Portland and giving back through The Standard Charitable Foundation. His decades of leadership, mentorship and community impact make him a model Wildcat — and this year’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.
Read more about McMillan on Voices of Linfield, then hear his own words at his Distinguished Alumnus of the Year presentation, 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 in T.J. Day Hall 222. There is no cost, but registration is recommended.
